Federal Lawsuit update:

The Federal lawsuit filed by Pastor Andre Johnson and others was recently dismissed without prejudice, (it can be filed again). I have been informed, the technical items the Federal Judge stated were the cause of the dismissal are in the process of being corrected. It is possible it will be refiled in October 2015.

The three branches of government of the Church of God in Christ, are in a power struggle. In my opinion and for reasons unknown, it appears the Legislative Branch (General Assembly) desires to undermine the authority of the Judicial Branch (Judiciary Board), this only benefits the remaining branch, the Executive Branch.

History

Prior to April 1991, the General Assembly was thehighest Judicial authority in the Church of God in Christ, there was no appeal from the decisions of the General Assembly.
On April 11, 1991 at 8:15 P.M., the General Assembly transferred all of its Judicial Authority to the newly created Third Branch of Government The Judiciary Board, with the exception of the three following instances each with right to appeal to the Judiciary Board (the Supreme Court):

Trial of a General Board member

Trial of a Judiciary Board member

Trial of the Chairman of the General Assembly

(Found in Article VIII-The Judiciary Board)

The Judiciary Board was created on April 11, 1991 at 8:15 p.m. and the Judicial Code was passed November 15, 1994.
Click these links to view excerpts of the minutes when this transfer of authority was discussed and PASSED.

April 1991, November 1994
I have taken excerpts from theses minutes and highlighted the previously mentioned portions for ease of reading.

The Cause of a Constitutional Crisis:

When one branch of government attempts to infringe upon the Constitutionally granted rights of another, a crisis is created. We then descend into rule by the powerful elite rather than the rule of law, where the rights of the ordinary members are subject to the desires of those who hold power. In an attempt to end this crisis, the heads of the three Branches of COGIC Government met in Memphis on April 16, 2015. According to a “Memorandum” of the meeting by Chief Justice Jackson the following individuals were present,

In a stunning display of integrity and honesty, the Church of God in Christ, Judicial Investigating Committee (a standing committee of the General Assembly formed in April 2014) performed a thorough investigation of the charges brought by Elder Charles Blacksear against Chief Justice Thomas Jackson. They interviewed both parties, they requested and reviewed documents to ascertain the validity of allegations. The consensus was “that Chief Justice Thomas Jackson was exonerated of all these charges.”

Page 2, paragraphs 2 and 3, from a copy of the minutes of the meeting states;

Chairman Lewis asked does the Board agree that Chief Justice Thomas Jackson is cleared of all the charges brought against him?

All of the committee members agreed that Chief Justice Thomas Jackson is exonerated of all these charges.

Also, here are excerpts from a declaration by the chairman of the Investigating Committee. The Investigating Committee is to be applauded for its thorough investigation. By looking at the evidence and talking to both parties they have set an example for others to use.